Character Checklist
You think you have cracked a character? Or you’re struggling to find the inner character integrity?
Stanislavsky used to ask actors to answer a few questions about him/ herself when creating a character there are many versions of this list here are a few questions I use and have compiled together for your benefit.
You can find out more Advise for actors including How to write the perfect CV? How to track your acting carer? How to kiss on stage? How to choose the right agent?, How to keep in character on stage or film? On the acting website here.
1. Who am I? What characteristics do I keep inside and what characteristics do I portray on the out side? Why do I portray my self in this way? Has something affected me before this moment? Be brutal and exact
2. Where am I? Where am I from? Your characteristics and behaviour will be affected by where you are, where you’re from? (Regional characteristics for example) am I in a bar, park or at home? If you’re at home look out the window, what’s the weather like out side? - I bet your glad, or disappointed you’re inside the house! What do you think of the man next to you in the bar? Does he smell? All these little things will help you build up an environment and thus a situation for your character to react to.
3. What time is it? Be exact. Also what time is it in what period? The time of day and period you are in will affect the characters mood and behaviour? Are you tired, lively? Morning tiredness or a need to go to bed tiredness?
4. What is my point in this scene, in this play? What do I want to archive by doing the actions I am about to do? The big actors question, “What is my motivation!!!!!” well what is it? Why are you doing what you are doing?
5. How are you going to achieve what you want to achieve? “I need to call someone? Ahh I’ll pick up the phone!” questions you ask your self in every day life “how am I going to convince mum to let me stay out late? Do I whine at her? Act all sweet and innocent?”
6. What are my obstacles in achieving what I want to achieve? Inner obstacles “I’m too scared to ring up jimmy, I cant pick up the phone” or obstacles which are on the outside or unavoidable “mums horrible she never lets me do what I want.” This will help you judge the situation the character is faced with
7. What effect impression do I want to leave on the other characters? Upset? Angry?
8. What effect do the other characters, this situation have on me? Am I upset? Angry?
9. What shall I do next?……..
You can find out more Advise for actors on theactingwebsite.com here. | 
